Opinion / Columnist
The National School Pledge: A National Philosophy
29 Apr 2016 at 15:35hrs | Views
The recent introduction of the National School Pledge by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Lazarus Dokora, is a prudent idea which all Zimbabweans should cherish for it reflects our national philosophy that we should be proud of as a people.
It is worth mentioning that the National School Pledge is an extension of the new national constitution into the education curriculum as defined by its preamble content. The constitution directs the education ministry to promote public awareness of the constitution which been partially satisfied in way by this pledge.
The pledge is also poised to inculcate the national value systems into junior citizens from Early Childhood Development up to secondary school level. This would certainly facilitate children to recognise their identity as well as to foster their patriotism, and allegiance to the country, contrary to perceptions of other sectors of the nation inclining the move to party politics. National interest goes beyond the scope of party politics as argued by some critics.
In essence the pledge will enable children to respect the sacrifice of fellow Zimbabweans who participated and lost lives in pursuit of the liberation of their country, whose independence we still enjoy up to this day.
In addition this national commitment will enable children to appreciate local traditional cultures and the natural resources endowed to the country. This gives them the impetus to guard jealously and defend their national heritage for their universal benefit as bonafide citizens of this republic.
This is high time that we sit down and reflect on ourselves and consider the benefits of cultivating national identify amongst ourselves. The fundamental aspect of the pledge is not only peculiar to Zimbabwe, but are also found and revered highly in various countries across globe like in the United States of America, Singapore and Indonesia among other nation states.
It is worth mentioning that the National School Pledge is an extension of the new national constitution into the education curriculum as defined by its preamble content. The constitution directs the education ministry to promote public awareness of the constitution which been partially satisfied in way by this pledge.
The pledge is also poised to inculcate the national value systems into junior citizens from Early Childhood Development up to secondary school level. This would certainly facilitate children to recognise their identity as well as to foster their patriotism, and allegiance to the country, contrary to perceptions of other sectors of the nation inclining the move to party politics. National interest goes beyond the scope of party politics as argued by some critics.
In essence the pledge will enable children to respect the sacrifice of fellow Zimbabweans who participated and lost lives in pursuit of the liberation of their country, whose independence we still enjoy up to this day.
In addition this national commitment will enable children to appreciate local traditional cultures and the natural resources endowed to the country. This gives them the impetus to guard jealously and defend their national heritage for their universal benefit as bonafide citizens of this republic.
This is high time that we sit down and reflect on ourselves and consider the benefits of cultivating national identify amongst ourselves. The fundamental aspect of the pledge is not only peculiar to Zimbabwe, but are also found and revered highly in various countries across globe like in the United States of America, Singapore and Indonesia among other nation states.
Source - Sparkleford Masiyambiri
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